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and Hobbs, I could see why you would want to sterilize it.
i have a 50watt in my QT right now and come winter when it gets super duper cold. i'd like an extra heater in my main tank to help with the heat distribution, so ill clean that heater to make sure nothing gross is on it that could hurt my healthy fish.

Just make sure you thoroughly soak it in water for several hours after using bleach. Use plenty of decholrinator in the soak.

I'd opt for vinegar rather than bleach - it's sterilising properties are almost as good, but it's far safer to use around aquarium equipment. I believe it also won't degrade water-tight seals (which bleach can do on electrical equipment).

I like the idea of using vinegar instead of bleach. It'll be much less diluted than if I used bleach but, yea, I'll scrub it, soak it in maybe 1/2 and 1/2 vinegar water, then let it soak in dechlorinated water overnight. It's been unused and dried out for quite a while (6 months at least, I'd say) so I don't think I'd need to let it dry out again after the above treatment is complete. Unless there's something specific about that suggestion that I don't know about ...?